Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- NOAA-OAR-CIAO-2026-32786
- Agency
-
Department of Commerce
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $100,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Categories
-
- Natural Resources
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Mark Rath cipo.oar@noaa.gov (301) 734-1181
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research seeks to establish a Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA) through a cooperative agreement with an eligible consortium of academic institutions. Applicants must consist of multiple universities offering accredited graduate degree programs in NOAA-related sciences, led by a single lead institution located within the Gulf of America region, and may include supporting research affiliates. The CI will conduct interdisciplinary research addressing NOAA priority areas including ecosystem-based management, coastal hazards, extreme events, harmful algal blooms, storm surge, sea-level change, fisheries management technologies, and data stewardship, with demonstrated expertise in artificial intelligence, ecosystem monitoring, data assimilation, oceanographic observations, and coastal adaptation strategies. Evaluation will be based on strategic planning and socioeconomic impact (35 points), technical and scientific merit (30 points), overall qualifications of applicants (20 points), project costs (5 points), and outreach and education (10 points). Applications must be submitted by May 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time through both Grants.gov and eRA Commons, with the award period beginning October 1, 2026.
The maximum federal funding ceiling is $100,000,000 for an initial five-year term, with potential renewal for an additional five years contingent upon favorable performance review conducted in the fourth year. Cost sharing is required but has no specified minimum threshold, with acceptable forms including reduced indirect cost rates, facility use waivers, or salary support for key personnel. The initial application should present high-level research themes without detailed project specifications; subsequent non-competitive project proposals with durations of one to five years will be submitted after CI selection and approval. Performance will occur at designated academic institutions and their consortium partners throughout the Gulf of America region and associated research facilities. Award decisions are typically made within 180 calendar days of receiving a complete and acceptable application.
Synopsis
The NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) invites applications for the establishment of the Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA). This CI may consist of a group of academic institutions (a consortium), at times working in conjunction with supporting research affiliates, with expertise and capabilities in the NOAA priority areas that contribute to the areas of research described in the Funding Opportunity Description of this announcement.
Applicants to this Notice of Funding Opportunity will submit only one overarching application that seeks to establish the CINGA at an eligible group of institutions (a consortium). This application should be submitted by the lead institution of the eligible group. This application should address high level research themes (See Section I.B. of this Announcement) that could encompass future projects and should not include detailed projects at this time.
Following the selection of the CI host institution, the awardee will be requested to submit additional subsequent non-competitive projects proposals that fall under the research themes for review and potential funding. The host institution will continue to submit detailed project applications at various funding levels and periods of performances throughout the life of the five-year award.
Applicants must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible. NOAA has created a website to aid applicants in understanding Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), the application process, and how to properly format application packages to eRA, linked here.
Prior to registering with eRA Commons, applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed (refer to Section IV. Applications and Submission Information, Section C). Organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all registrations must be in place by time of application submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
This document sets out requirements for submitting to NOAA-OAR-CIAO-2026-32786
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| NOAA-OAR-CIAO-2026-32786.pdf |
Posting history
| Listing | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity | ||
| Opportunity |
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